A bunch of groovy mates tied together by aesthetically pleasing 70’s fashion and musical talent… Upon viewing the live show it’s hard to say which band member takes the limelight, as Parcels is quite literally a parcel of musical ingenuity.
Parcels are making waves across the music scene in Europe and beyond with their visually stunning live set. Based in Berlin and originally from Byron Bay in Australia, the five boys bring a bright and lively vibe paired with a sound that was clearly honed in Berlin. A funky fusion of upbeat guitar riffs and drums dominates their music, while delicate vocals ribbon through their unique sound. This “unique sound” was picked up at a show in France last year by none other than Daft Punk. Wait… THE Daft Punk? Yep.
If you thought Daft Punk only worked with the likes of Pharrell Williams and Nile Rogers, think again. The esteemed French pioneers of electro-funk showed up at a sweaty Parisian venue to let the boys from Byron Bay know that they are interested in their sound. This interest eventually led to studio time, and that studio time led to the release of a deliciously funky single titled ‘Overnight’.
Flying high off the release of ‘Overnight’, Parcels did a European tour with electro-pop stalwarts Phoenix, opening for the French band in huge venues around Europe such as London’s Alexandra Palace and the AccorHotels Arena in Paris. Now, having just finished an almost completely sold-out tour of their own across Europe, Japan and Australia, the new year is looking even more promising, as fans anticipate the band’s debut release. The fact that Parcels haven’t yet released an album is extremely impressive considering their established fan base. And if their album is even half as good as their live set, it’ll be a sure-fire hit.
When I sat down in London at Alexandra Palace with bassist Noah Hill, he gave me a reason as to why the release of a debut album was taking longer than expected:
“We want to make a GREAT album, and that is something that can’t be rushed. When it comes to the artistic process, it’s something we care about a lot. We’d rather take longer to release something amazing than rush and release something that might not be as good.”
Clear artistic integrity vocalised, it’s obvious that both Noah and the rest of Parcels value quality over quantity… sort of the opposite of Melbourne band King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard.
Taking the leap from Byron to Berlin wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows for the band, as they swapped summer in Australia for wintery Germany. Noah gave me insight into the early days abroad, and one particularly cold period of his life:
“I’m pretty sure it was the first winter we were all in Berlin and it was absolutely freezing. Louie (keyboard) and I were staying in this shitty apartment that didn’t have any heating. I was basically broke and had a period where I was surviving off potatoes on toast.”
In the mean time, Parcels have recently announced a massive special guest appearance at Milano Summer Festival opening for U.S. giants MGMT and Justice, another notorious French electronic music duo. Sharing bills with such established artists speaks volumes about the quality and future of the band, and with that in mind, I have no doubt that their soon to be released album will be HUGE!
Keep an eye out for Parcels, and if you’re curious you can check out their live podcasts on the tour trail. They deliver a box-full of musical surprises and we reckon are going to become a house-hold name in no time. You heard it here first!